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6. Right Effort / Right Endeavor / Perfect Effort
Samyag Vyayama / Samma Vayama
正精進 is one of the Noble Eightfold Paths of Buddhism. Right Effort, along with Right Mindfulness and Right Concentration, constitute the path to Concentration or Perfect Thought.
The proper effort is not the effort to make something particular happen. It is the effort to be aware and awake in each moment, the effort to overcome laziness and defilement, and the effort to make each activity of our daily meditation. This concept is about pursuing wholesome things that promote good karma.
Another definition: Cultivation of what is karmically wholesome and avoidance of what is karmically unwholesome.
This term is exclusively used by devout Buddhists. It is not a common term, and is remains an unknown concept to most Japanese and Chinese people.
See Also: Buddhism | Enlightenment | Noble Eightfold Path
Put out a burning wood cart with a cup of water
An utterly inadequate measure
杯水車薪 is a warning against a futile effort.
This proverb literally refers to one who is “trying to put out a burning cart of wood with a cup of water,” or “throw a cup of water on a cartload of wood.” The lesson to be learned is about using the right measure or tool for the job and not wasting your effort if you are inadequately equipped for the task at hand - in other words the postscript should be “go get a bucket or a fire hose.”
Where There is a Will, There is a Way
A determined effort can move a mountain
愚公移山 is the Chinese proverb (also somewhat known in Japan and Korea) for “the silly old man moves a mountain.”
Figuratively, this means “where there's a will, there's a way.”
Based on a fable of Lord Yu (愚公). He moved the soil of the mountain in front of his house. After years of effort, he finally moved the entire mountain (some versions of the story have God seeing how determined the man was, and sending two angels to whisk the mountains away).
The moral of the story: Anything can be accomplished if one works at it ceaselessly.
The Japanese version of this is 愚公山を移す (gu kou yama wo utsu su). But better to get the Chinese version, since this is originally a Chinese proverb.
See Also: Nothing is Impossible
Spare No Effort
不遺餘力 is a Chinese proverb that can be translated in many ways. Here are some of them: go to any lengths; with all one's might; spare no pain; do one's utmost.
If you feel hard work and holding nothing back is your philosophy, this is the phrase for you.
These search terms might be related to Effort:
6. Right Effort / Right Endeavor / Perfect Effort
Air Force
Always Striving for Inner Strength
Always Try to Do Better
Blood Sweat and Tears
Conquering Yourself is a Sign of Strength
Control of Power
Courage and Strength
Determination to Achieve / Will-Power
Dynamic Energy / Enthusiasm
Energy / Capability
Energy Sword Body in Concert
Eternal Energy / Eternal Matter
Flexibility Overcomes Strength
Fortitude / Strength of Character
Girl Power / Woman Power
God Give Me Strength
Great Endeavor / to Strive
Great Power
Herculean Strength
Inner Strength
Inner Strength / Inner Well-Being and Health
Inner Strength / Self-Improvement
Inner Strength is Better Than Outward Appearance
Juggernaut / Absolute Power
Let Us Try
Life Energy / Spiritual Energy
Life Force
Love Faith Strength
Perseverance / Will-Power
Physical Strength
Power / Strength
Power of Oneself / Self-Sufficient
Power of Understanding and Wisdom
Psychic Energy
Psychic Power
Self-Discipline / Will-Power
Spiritual Strength / Strength of Spirit
Strength / Ability
Strength / Vigor / Energy
Strength and Courage
Strength and Honor
Strength and Love
Strength and Love in Unity
Strength Love Honor
Strength: Strong and Solid
Strive / Struggle
Strong / Powerful / Force
Supernatural Energy
The Force
The More We Sweat in Training, the Less We Bleed in Battle
The Spirit of the Dragon Horse and Power of a Tiger
Will-Power / Self-Control
With All the Strength of Your Heart
Not the results for effort that you were looking for?
Below are some entries from our dictionary that may match your effort search...
| Characters If shown, 2nd row is Simp. Chinese |
Pronunciation Romanization |
Simple Dictionary Definition |
強 强 see styles |
qiǎng qiang3 ch`iang chiang kyou / kyo きょう |
More info & calligraphy: Strong / Powerful / Force(suffix) (1) (ant: 弱・1) a little over; a little more than; (2) (ant: 弱・2) strength; the strong; (suffix) (3) powerhouse; one of the biggest; one of the most powerful; (suffix) (4) (after a number on the Japan Meteorological Agency seismic intensity scale; e.g. 5強) (ant: 弱・3) -upper (seismic intensity); (personal name) Tsuyomi Strong, forceful, violent; to force; to strengthen. |
頓 顿 see styles |
dùn dun4 tun tomi; ton; toni とみ; とん; とに |
More info & calligraphy: Dayton(n,adj-nari) (1) (archaism) (See 頓に・とみに,頓と・とんと・1) sudden; abrupt; unexpected; (n,adj-nari) (2) (とん only) (archaism) stupid; foolish; (3) (とん only) {Buddh} attaining enlightenment in one effort (without ascetic practices, etc.); (surname) Tomi To fall headlong, prostrate; at one time, at once; suddenly; immediate; a pause; to stamp; make ready; used chiefly in contrast with 漸 gradually. |
功夫 see styles |
gōng fu gong1 fu5 kung fu kanfuu; kunfuu / kanfu; kunfu カンフー; クンフー |
More info & calligraphy: Kung Fu / Gong Fu(kana only) {MA} kung fu (chi: gōngfu); (male given name) Norio work |
努力 see styles |
nǔ lì nu3 li4 nu li doryoku どりょく |
More info & calligraphy: Great Endeavor / To Strive(n,vs,vi) effort; exertion; endeavour; endeavor; hard work; striving; (surname) Nuriki to strive |
協力 协力 see styles |
xié lì xie2 li4 hsieh li kyouryoku / kyoryoku きょうりょく |
More info & calligraphy: Cooperation(n,vs,adj-no) cooperation; collaboration |
精進 精进 see styles |
jīng jìn jing1 jin4 ching chin shoujin(p); soujin(ok); shouji(ok); souji(ok) / shojin(p); sojin(ok); shoji(ok); soji(ok) しょうじん(P); そうじん(ok); しょうじ(ok); そうじ(ok) |
More info & calligraphy: Devotion / Diligence / Vigorous / Energetic(n,vs,vi) (1) concentration; diligence; devotion; (n,vs,vi) (2) {Buddh} (See 六波羅蜜) asceticism; zeal in one's quest for enlightenment; (n,vs,vi) (3) adherence to a vegetarian diet; (surname) Shoujin vīrya, one of the seven bodhyaṅga; 'vigour,' 'valour, fortitude,' 'virility' (M.W.); 'welldoing' (Keith). The Chinese interpretation may be defined, as pure or unadulterated progress, i.e. 勤 zeal, zealous, courageously progressing in the good and eliminating the evil.; vīrya, zeal, unchecked progress. |
自強 自强 see styles |
zì qiáng zi4 qiang2 tzu ch`iang tzu chiang jikyou / jikyo じきょう |
More info & calligraphy: Inner Strength / Self-Improvement(noun/participle) strenuous effort |
正精進 正精进 see styles |
zhèng jīng jìn zheng4 jing1 jin4 cheng ching chin shoushoujin / shoshojin しょうしょうじん |
More info & calligraphy: 6. Right Effort / Right Endeavor / Perfect Effortsamyagvyāyāma, right effort, zeal, or progress, unintermitting perseverance, the sixth of the 八正道; 'right effort, to suppress the rising of evil states, to eradicate those which have arisen, to stimulate good states, and to perfect those which have come into being. ' Keith. |
滴水穿石 see styles |
dī shuǐ chuān shí di1 shui3 chuan1 shi2 ti shui ch`uan shih ti shui chuan shih |
More info & calligraphy: Dripping Water Penetrates Stone |
出 see styles |
chū chu1 ch`u chu de で |
to go out; to come out; to arise; to occur; to produce; to yield; to go beyond; to exceed; (used after a verb to indicate an outward direction or a positive result); classifier for dramas, plays, operas etc (n,n-suf) (1) coming out; going out; outflow; efflux; rising (of the Sun or the Moon); (n,n-suf) (2) attending (work); appearing (on stage); one's turn to go on; (n,n-suf) (3) start; beginning; (n,n-suf) (4) origins; background; person (or item) originating from ...; graduate of ...; native of ...; member of ... (lineage); (n,n-suf) (5) architectural member that projects outward; (n,n-suf) (6) highest point of the stern of a ship; (n,n-suf) (7) (kana only) (usu. after the -masu stem of a verb as 〜出がある or 〜出がない, etc.) amount (comprising something); amount of time or effort required to do something; (surname) De To go out, come forth, put forth; exit; beyond. |
划 see styles |
huá hua2 hua |
to row; to paddle; profitable; worth (the effort); it pays (to do something) |
功 see styles |
gōng gong1 kung kou / ko こう |
meritorious deed or service; achievement; result; service; accomplishment; work (physics) (1) merit; success; meritorious deed; (2) achievement; accumulated experience; (male given name) Tsutomu Merit, meritorious; achievement, hence 功力 achieving strength, earnest effort after the good). |
劭 see styles |
shào shao4 shao tsutomu つとむ |
stimulate to effort (female given name) Tsutomu |
労 see styles |
láo lao2 lao rou / ro ろう |
Japanese variant of 勞|劳 labor; labour; toil; trouble; pains; work; effort; striving; (given name) Rou |
勉 see styles |
miǎn mian3 mien masaru まさる |
to exhort; to make an effort (given name) Masaru to endeavor |
勱 劢 see styles |
mài mai4 mai |
put forth effort |
手 see styles |
shǒu shou3 shou te て |
hand; (formal) to hold; person engaged in certain types of work; person skilled in certain types of work; personal(ly); convenient; classifier for skill; CL:雙|双[shuang1],隻|只[zhi1] (1) (occ. pronounced た when a prefix) (See お手・おて・1) hand; arm; (2) (colloquialism) (See お手・おて・3) forepaw; foreleg; (3) handle; (4) hand; worker; help; (5) trouble; care; effort; (6) means; way; trick; move; technique; workmanship; (7) hand; handwriting; (8) kind; type; sort; (9) (See 手に入る) one's hands; one's possession; (10) (See 手に余る) ability to cope; (11) hand (of cards); (12) (See 山の手・1) direction; (n,n-suf,ctr) (13) move (in go, shogi, etc.); (surname) Tezaki pāṇī; hasta; kara; hand, arm. |
番 see styles |
fān fan1 fan ban ばん |
(bound form) foreign (non-Chinese); barbarian; classifier for processes or actions that take time and effort; (classifier) a kind; a sort; (classifier) (used after the verb 翻[fan1] to indicate how many times a quantity doubles, as in 翻一番[fan1 yi1 fan1] "to double") (n,n-suf) (1) number (in a series); (2) (one's) turn; (3) watch; guard; lookout; (suffix noun) (4) rank; standing; position; (n,n-suf) (5) {sumo} bout; match; (suffix noun) (6) pieces (in a collection); (surname) Ban Barbarian, foreign; a time, a turn. |
賣 卖 see styles |
mài mai4 mai mai |
to sell; to betray; to spare no effort; to show off or flaunt To sell. |
一息 see styles |
yī xī yi1 xi1 i hsi hitoiki ひといき |
(1) one breath; (2) time of one breath; (3) pause; break; rest; breather; (4) (as 一息に) (doing in) one go; doing without stopping; (5) small amount of effort; a little more effort A breath, i.e. inspiration-cum-expiration; a rest, or cessation. |
一手 see styles |
yī shǒu yi1 shou3 i shou hitote ひとて |
a skill; mastery of a trade; by oneself; without outside help (1) one's own effort; doing single-handedly; (2) a game (of go, shogi, etc.); a match; (3) a dance; a (musical) composition; (4) a company (e.g. of soldiers); a group; a party; (5) one hand one hand |
一挙 see styles |
ikkyo いっきょ |
(adv,n) one effort; one action |
丹精 see styles |
tansei / tanse たんせい |
(noun/participle) working earnestly; sincerity; diligence; effort; pains |
丹誠 see styles |
tansei / tanse たんせい |
(noun/participle) working earnestly; sincerity; diligence; effort; pains |
人力 see styles |
rén lì ren2 li4 jen li jinriki; jinryoku じんりき; じんりょく |
manpower; labor power human power; human strength; human effort; human agency |
人手 see styles |
rén shǒu ren2 shou3 jen shou hitode ひとで |
manpower; staff; human hand (1) someone else's hands; someone else's possession; (2) hand (worker); aide; (3) labor; labour; work; manpower; effort; (4) help; assistance; (5) (human) hand; human act a person's hand |
人為 人为 see styles |
rén wéi ren2 wei2 jen wei jini じんい |
artificial; man-made; having human cause or origin; human attempt or effort (noun - becomes adjective with の) human work; human agency; art; artificiality |
全力 see styles |
quán lì quan2 li4 ch`üan li chüan li zenryoku ぜんりょく |
with all one's strength; full strength; all-out (effort); fully (support) (noun - becomes adjective with の) all one's power (strength, energy, efforts); one's utmost |
力作 see styles |
lì zuò li4 zuo4 li tso rikisaku(p); ryokusaku りきさく(P); りょくさく |
to put effort into (work, farming, writing etc); a masterpiece (1) (esp. りきさく) painstaking piece of work; work of great effort; tour de force; outstanding work; (noun/participle) (2) (form) (esp. りょくさく) toil; labor; labour; (given name) Rikisaku |
力挫 see styles |
lì cuò li4 cuo4 li ts`o li tso |
to win as a result of tenacious effort; to fight off tough competition |
Click here for more effort results from our dictionary
The following table may be helpful for those studying Chinese or Japanese...
| Title | Characters | Romaji (Romanized Japanese) | Various forms of Romanized Chinese | |
| 6. Right Effort Right Endeavor Perfect Effort | 正精進 正精进 | sei shou jin seishoujin sei sho jin | zhèng jīng jìn zheng4 jing1 jin4 zheng jing jin zhengjingjin | cheng ching chin chengchingchin |
| Put out a burning wood cart with a cup of water | 杯水車薪 杯水车薪 | bēi shuǐ chē xīn bei1 shui3 che1 xin1 bei shui che xin beishuichexin | pei shui ch`e hsin peishuichehsin pei shui che hsin |
|
| Where There is a Will, There is a Way | 愚公移山 | yū gōng yí shān yu1 gong1 yi2 shan1 yu gong yi shan yugongyishan | yü kung i shan yükungishan |
|
| Spare No Effort | 不遺餘力 / 不遺余力 不遗余力 | bù yí yú lì bu4 yi2 yu2 li4 bu yi yu li buyiyuli | pu i yü li puiyüli |
|
| In some entries above you will see that characters have different versions above and below a line. In these cases, the characters above the line are Traditional Chinese, while the ones below are Simplified Chinese. | ||||
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